From left, Professor of Psychology Gordon Gallup Jr. and Jeremy Atkinson, the UAlbany graduate student in biopsychology who marshaled the resources of the University to produce its inaugural celebration of Darwin Day. (Photo by Mark Schmidt)

When a student has a good idea, the
University at Albany listens. Ask grad student
Jeremy Atkinson, who harnessed UAlbany's
resources to organize "Darwin Day," in honor of
Charles Darwin, the father of the theory of
evolution.

"Darwin Day is not just about esoteric talks,
but about getting everyone excited and educated
about evolution," said Atkinson, a native of
Canada and second-year doctoral student in
biopsychology.

He brought his idea for the celebration to
Professor of
Psychology
Gordon Gallup Jr., who was on board right away.

"Darwin Day is a way of celebrating and
commemorating Charles Darwin's birthday and his
enormous impact on modern science," said Gallup,
who believes the celebration will become an
annual February event.

Atkinson learned that at the heart of the University, "you do find hidden gems, people who go that extra mile to help out."

To pull his plan together, Atkinson drew on
the resources of the University, including his
classmates. Graduate student Nate Pipitone
researched and wrote a successful
University
Auxiliary Services
(UAS) grant proposal, which funded the day's
activities, and invited students from other
schools; student Brian Quinn formed a Darwin
Club to enlist the help of other undergraduates.
Atkinson's thesis adviser gained support for the
proposal from the chairs of the departments of
anthropology and psychology.

Several UAlbany faculty pitched in on the
program, giving talks, including Gallup, David
Strait of the
Department of Anthropology, and Mary Gonder of
the Department of Biological Sciences. In addition,
UAlbany alumnus Josh Drew '00, a biologist at
Boston University, offered a presentation on
Biogeography, Evolution and Conservation of
Melanesian Coral Reef Fish. Atkinson invited a
colleague and friend, Cornell University
lecturer in neurobiology and behavior Pat
Barclay, to give the keynote address, Survival
of the Generous: Game Theory and the Evolution
of Human Altruism.

As important as the success of the
celebration was the way it happened, Atkinson
said. He learned that at the heart of the
University, "you do find hidden gems, people who
go that extra mile to help out."